'86 Westy Weekender, resored, AC, Auto, Cruise

Description for Volkswagen Bus/Vanagon 1986

Here's the Last Westy from Uncle Lon's Spiffy Restorations! It's a 1986 Weekender, ith poptop. It is a Wolfsberg Edition, ith automatic tranny, ir conditioning, ower steering and cruise control. This Westy was originally restored to be my personal vehicle, nd I've driven it for almost a year after the work was done, o there are a few scratches and such. Still, t's a very surprising little van!
The van originally came from near Flagstaff, here I found it in November, 013. It was and is, ncredibly rust-free. It did have plenty of problems like a coolant leak, on-working cruise control and power steering, il leaks from the push rods, un damaged interior, tc. But it was sound and I actually drove it back to Idaho without mishap. Then, e pulled it into the mechanic shop, ook out the interior, nd just generally started fixing things for a couple of months. The original motorized mirrors didn't work, nd I didn't replace the motors, ince I like them as they are, nd since they are the heavy framed type, hey aren't the infamous 'floppy mirrors' normally a headache on Westies.
Here's some of the work that has been done in restoration:
Full interior rebuild, ncluding:
-New seat restructures with outdoor furniture fabric, o it's fade resistant, nd new rubber foam where needed.
-Interior wall panels were removed, ody was treated with Boom Mat sound retardant, anels were painted with vinyl paint to coordinate with the fabric, nd new cup holders installed.
-New flooring installed in a vinyl bamboo pattern
-New Pioneer stereo installed with CD, emote, nd four new Kicker speakers
-New GoWesty rear seat heater core
-New turn signal switches and dimmer switch (yeah, nd believe me, hat ain't no small job!)
-New GoWesty cruise control
-Weathered and sun damaged dash was filled, anded and repainted with vinyl paint to match upholstery trim. (This was experimental, nd the result was quite good, ut the old damage still left a 'pattern' on the new dash - see photos)
Engine and mechanical, ncluding:
-Complete upper engine rebuild, ith new push rod tube seals, ew piston rings, ew cylinder heads and new valve tappets.
-Complete tune-up with new plugs, ew wires, ew distributor cap and rotor, ew V-belts and fluids.
-Complete exhaust overhaul, ith new headers, ew muffler, ownpipe, uffler and gaskets.
-Complete fluid system overhaul with new water pump and gaskets, ew oil hoses and cross over pipe.
-Complete transmission overhaul, ith new GoWesty transmission oil cooler, ew case half seals, ew radial seals, ew o-rings and new torque converter gasket.
-Complete A/C overhaul, ith new compressor and R134a recharge.
-New motor mounts
-New crankshaft radial seal
-New wiring harness to oil senders, nd functionality of warning light check.
-Suspension overhaul with rebuild of power steering rack and pinion, teering shaft coupler and line fittings, uter tie rods and coupling disk.
-Brake overhaul, ith new ball joints, urned rotors and new front brake pads.
-Repacked and adjusted wheel bearings.
-Complete gas tank like overhaul with new sending unit, askets and lines (Pay attention, iddies, his job is IMPORTANT on any Westy restoration! The sending unit often leaks on old vans, he tank is right. under. your. seat.)
Body and exterior extras, ncluding:
-Complete body repaint, ncluding poptop and luggage rack
-New door grab handles and window cranks
-Two new batteries
-New three-window tent installed
-New 12V, 5Watt Solar panel installed on rear of poptop, ired through to charge controller in rear cabinet, hen to twin battery system. No exposed wires except a short area within the rear of the tent.
-New black bra included
-New padded dash protector included
-All new rubber trim on drip edges and poptop, ncluding luggage rack.
-New stainless steel 'footman loops' on luggage rack (rack was removed, ab top inspected for rust, nd painted to match.)
-Uncle Lon's goody bag, ith assorted old junk like a window safety tool, arious filters, pare parts and fuses, can of fix-a-flat and anything else I need to get rid of.
Okay now, think that gives you an idea of what we're dealing with. Please don't confuse it with one of those ultra fine nut-and-bolt restorations from someone like GoWesty. There are still things, ostly cosmetic, hat need to be done as with almost any older vehicle. But, his old gal looks pretty, s quite strong, omfortable and reliable. I drove it from Boise to Seattle the last trip, hen up to Coeur d'Alene and back down through Riggins. There's a long, igh grade just before Riggins, hat's known as a tough climb, ut this Westy topped it at about 50 mph. That's pretty dang good for a 4 cylinder van! The air works great and is surprisingly efficient for a box this big. The cruise control works perfectly and the transmission shifts correctly and smoothly. The tires are new enough for a few years to come, nd the tent is new, hich means new zippers!
So there you have it. I've done my best by this Westy, ut I'm nearing 70 and things seem to have a way of changing rather quickly these days. I just sold my home and garage in Idaho, o I have to sell this, y...Last Westy. You can even have the hula girl for the dash, ut you have to promise to take your kids camping.
Terms- Deposit of $500 by paypal within three days of winning bid. You can then come up to Nampa, hich is about 20 miles on the Interstate, ue west of Boise, daho. Or you can fly into the Boise airport; I'll pick you up and you can drive the van home. No sales are final until your inspection and payment. Cash or certified funds only, lease.
If you need more information, lease call me at 208/880-6272. Just remember that I'm old, rumpy and I go to bed early. And... Idaho is on Mountain time, o don't call me too late in the evenings!
Thanks for reading about my Westy. It's the third of my restorations and I have loved doing every one. Check out my feedback on Ebay for the first one I sold. I hope to see you and your Westy, oing over the Owyhee mountain passes some day. And I hope your van is filled with the sense of adventure, aughter and... kids!
Uncle Lon
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ADDED INFO
A question was asked about the mileage of this van, nd I failed to get my reply in the proper box below. Here's the reply:
Sorry, ut I don't have an answer for that. Westies of this vintage had odometers with little plastic gears inside. Almost all of them have given out years ago. I don't bother to state mileage or replace the odometers, ince I do not know the mileage when it originally stopped. I always tell prospective owners that the only thing important is how much it has been used and how well it has been maintained since restoration. Prior to restoration, ost Westies have very similar problems and the weak odometers are one of the most common.
Thanks for the interest, nd if there is anything else you wish to know, ust ask or give me a call and I'll do my best.
Lon